Texas Holdem - Understanding 3 Card Poker Games

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 26th, 2010

With most people playing Texas Hold?em these days, sometimes other variations of the popular game get ignored. One of these variations is 3 card poker. It is a fun, exciting and easy game for people to play.

When playing three card poker, there are seven possible hands: a straight flush, three of a kind, straight, flush, pair, Queen to Ace high and Jack high or less.

The game is actually two games in one: Pairplus, and Ante and Play. The player may bet on either one or both and in different amounts.

Pairplus is a game in which a player gets three cards, bets and is paid according to the value of their own hand. There is no raising or discarding and no skill of any kind is involved.

Most casinos nowadays pay 40 to 1 for a straight flush, 30 to 1 for a three of a kind, 5 to 1 for a straight, 4 to 1 for a flush, 1 to 1 for a pair and the house edge is just over 5 per cent.

Ante and play is a variation of poker when play begins as a wager on an ante. After a player views the hole cards, he or she can raise by making a bet equal to the ante or fold and lose the ante bet. If the player folds, he or she can lose the pairplus bet if one was made, but this shouldn?t be a loss since if the Pairplus bet paid anything, then he or she shouldn?t have folded.

If the player raises he or she goes against the dealer?s hand. The dealer needs at least a Queen high to continue. Check out the possible outcomes:

- If the dealer does not qualify, then the ante wins 1 to 1 and the play bet is returned
- If the dealer qualifies and the player beats the dealer, both play and ante win 1 to 1
- If the dealer qualifies and the dealer beats the player, both play and ante lose
- If the dealer qualifies and the dealer ties the player, both play and ante push

Although there are other variations, generally the casino will pay 5 to 1 for a straight flush, 4 to 1 for a three of a kind and 1 to 1 for a straight. With this pay schedule, the house edge is just over 3 per cent.

Although there is no strategy in Pairplus, there is strategy involved in Ante and Play. Optimal strategy is to raise if you have a Queen, six and four in the same hand or greater, regardless of the pay schedule.

If you?re interested in learning more about playing 3 card poker simply search the game in your favourite Internet browser, look in your local bookstore or contact a casino in your area for instructional information.